2018 Session

For the 2018 session, which begins in February and will run for about five weeks, each Senator is limited to have one bill drafted and introduced. Stay tuned for what Michael's bill will be! He will be devoting much of his energy in the upcoming session to passing Clean Energy Jobs legislation. You can follow more on the development of the CEJ legislation here.

2017 Session

Michael was a Chief Sponsor of the following bills for the 2017 session. Click on the bill number for more information on each piece of legislation, including bill text, bill history, and materials from any public hearings that were held.

Environment & Natural Resources

Exempts county permit application for mining operation on significant mineral resource site in certain counties from requirements for uses in exclusive farm use zones and statewide land use planning goals and rules relating to land use.

Allows local government to inhibit or prevent production or use of seed or seed products for purpose of protecting seed or products that are not genetically engineered from adverse impacts of genetically engineered seed or products or if enforcing local measure approved by county voters on May 20, 2014.

Education & Foster Youth

Requires Department of Education and Higher Education Coordinating Commission to establish career and technical education pathways to permit students to easily progress from secondary school to public post-secondary institutions of education.

Provides that part-time faculty member at public institution of higher education who qualifies for health care benefits will pay 10 percent of insurance premiums, with remaining 90 percent paid by state.

Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to, on annual basis, work with Department of Human Services, each public university and each community college to determine number and graduation rates of former foster children and current foster children at each college or university.

Requires Department of Education to develop model plan for conducting tests for certain environmental hazards in facilities owned or leased by school districts or public charter schools where students or staff are present on regular basis and for reporting test results.

Requires school districts, education service districts and public charter schools to adopt Healthy and Safe Schools Plan to address environmental conditions in facilities owned or leased by districts or schools where students or staff are present on regular basis.

Permits expressly identified agent, pursuant to lawfully executed advance directive and in accordance with Oregon Death with Dignity Act, to collect and administer prescribed medication for purpose of ending patient's life in humane and dignified manner if patient ceases to be capable after having received prescription for life-ending medication.

Establishes Office of Oregon Ombudsmen to provide administrative services and support to Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman, Office of the Residential Facilities Ombudsman, Office of the Foster Parent Ombudsman, Office of the Foster Child Ombudsman and Office of the Oregon Public Guardian.

Provides that youth offenders sentenced to mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for certain crimes committed at 15, 16 or 17 years of age are eligible for conditional release hearing if they are in custody of Oregon Youth Authority upon attaining 24 years and six months of age.

During first nine months of occupancy, prohibits landlord from terminating month-to-month tenancy within 60 days of receiving from tenant request for repairs to correct certain building, health or housing code violation or unhabitable condition.

Directs Housing and Community Services Department to develop and implement Rent Guarantee Program to provide incentives and financial assistance to landlords that rent or lease to low income households by guaranteeing payments to landlords for unpaid rent and for eviction and property damage costs within certain limits.

Voting Access

Requires county clerk of each county to develop ballot tracking program that uses electronic mail and telephone text messages to inform participating elector when ballot is mailed to elector, when elector's completed ballot is received by county clerk and whether completed ballot has nonmatching signature or other defect that requires further action by elector in order for elector's vote to be counted.

Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct study and develop recommendations regarding most effective voter registration methods for students attending public universities and community colleges.

Requires Secretary of State, in consultation with Director of Department of Revenue, to conduct study and develop recommendations regarding desirability and most effective method for using tax filings submitted to Department of Revenue to ensure accuracy of addresses of electors contained in centralized voter registration system.

Other Issue Areas

Acknowledging the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 and the injustice, pain and suffering inflicted on Japanese Americans during World War II and recognizing national Day of Remembrance.

Prohibits public body from disclosing specified information concerning person unless required by state or federal law.

2016 Session

In the 2016 session, Senators were limited to drafting and introducing two bills. Michael introduced SB 1587, which addressed wage theft, and SB 1544, which corrected an issue with apprenticeship training programs in the state. He devoted much of his time, as Chair of the Senate Workforce and General Government Committee, to passing SB 1532, which increased the minimum wage in Oregon.

2015 Session

Michael was a Chief Sponsor of the following bills for the 2015 session:

Senate Bill 468Authorizes Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to issue warrants for collection of certain debts owed to bureau.

Senate Bill 470Allows payment of unemployment insurance benefits to certain individuals performing services in other than instructional, research or principal administrative capacity for educational institutions for weeks of unemployment commencing between two successive academic years or during established and customary vacation period or holiday recess.

House Bill 2561Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to evaluate best method for overseeing public universities to ensure universities interview at least one minority applicant when hiring head coach or athletic director.

House Bill 2611Extends by six years period universities with institutional governing boards must participate in mandated shared services under same terms, conditions, funding, model and policy frameworks as existed in 2013.

House Bill 2615Provides that employees of Oregon State Hospital who are classified by superintendent of Oregon State Hospital as other than secretarial or clerical personnel qualify as police officers under Public Employees Retirement System.

House Bill 2618Provides that employees of Department of Human Services whose duties include maintaining safety, behavior and control of residents of certain residential facilities qualify as police officers under Public Employees Retirement System.

House Bill 2633Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt administrative rules to implement statewide land use planning goal related to natural hazards.